Q3 15:00: Head Coach Josh McDaniels said the Broncos first units will play into the second half, so it’s likely the first-team offense will get at least one more crack to better these numbers, but in 12 offensive drives this preseason, Denver’s first-team offense has accounted for five touchdowns and one field goal for an average of 3.2 points per possession.

After a performance by the Junior Broncos Cheerleaders, the Broncos will start this half on defense. The kickoff went through the end zone for a touchback. The Steelers will start the second half from their own 20-yard line.

Q3 14:55: Mario Haggan got the second half off to a great start for the defense, crushing Mewelde Moore in the backfield for a 2-yard loss. Andre’ Goodman stayed down for an extra second after a 14-yard pass to Mewelde Moore, but the cornerback who provided the first half fireworks with his defensive touchdown quickly jogged off.

Q3 14:09: Jonathan Dwyer picked up two yards on his first carry of the game after a brief injury delay. After another Dwyer carry, Pittsburgh faced a third-and-6 from their own 36-yard line. Dixon found Hines Ward for 9-yard gain and a first down.

Q3 12:13: Dixon scrambled off the right side, picking up 29 yards before D.J. Williams finally downed him at Denver’s 26-yard line. After a pair of runs, Pittsburgh faced a third-and-four from Denver’s 20-yard line. Dixon dropped into a shot gun and scrambled for a first down, but Jarvis Green drew a holding call on Pittsburgh’s Chris Kemoeatu. After the 10-yard penalty, it’s third-and-14.

Q3 9:26: Tyler Grisham grabbed a great 13-yard catch to set up a fourth-and-1 from Denver’s 17-yard line. Dixon called a timeout as the Steelers make a decision about whether to go for it.

Q3 8:43: They will go for it. Dixon tried to roll out before getting swarmed by a pack of Broncos. Alphonso Smith made the first hit and Jarvis Moss got into the backfield as well before Robert Ayers dropped Dixon for a 6-yard loss, giving the Broncos the ball at their own 23-yard line.

Q3 8:36: Tim Tebow has entered the game at quarterback.

Q3 8:35: Tebow hands to Lance Ball to start the second half for the Broncos offense, and Ball gets dropped for a yard loss. Left tackle Zane Beadles picks up a false start penalty before the second play. The Broncos then call a timeout.

Q3 7:31: Tebow hits Brandon Lloyd for a 14-yard gain to the Broncos 30. That sets up a third-and-3. Tebow takes a shot gun snap and misses Eddie Royal in the flat. The Broncos will punt.

Q3 6:48: Colquitt hits a 60-yard punt to Stefan Logan, continuing his impressive preseason. Wesley Woodyard corrals Logan at the Pittsburgh 16-yard line after a 6-yard return. Byron Leftwich is on at quarterback for the Steelers.

Q3 6:36: Kyle Orton is on the sideline in a baseball cap. It looks like his day is done with a final stat line that includes 9-of-14 passing for 80 yards with an interception. He led a pair of scoring drives.

Q3 6:35: A pair of runs to start the drive don’t go anywhere. Wesley Woodyard is shaken up on the play after dropping Dwyer in the backfield on the second play. The crowd starts getting loud before a third-and-12. Leftwich looks for Tyler Grisham but can’t connect. Sepulveda is on to punt to Syd’Quan Thompson.

Q3 5:39: Thompson dances up the left side and takes his return into Steelers territory. However, the play goes backwards on a 15-yard face mask penalty on Baraka Atkins. The Broncos will start from their own 34-yard line after a TV timeout.

Q3 5:38: Tebow hands off to Lance Ball, who pushes ahead for a 3-yard gain. Tebow hits Matthew Willis for 12 yards and a first down. On the following play, the rookie quarterback connects with Willis again for another first down. Lance Ball follows with a tough 7-yard run to the Steeler 25-yard line.

Q3 2:30: Ball continues his tough running with a 10-yard gain for a first down. Justin Fargas gives Ball a breather and picks up 4 yards on his first carry of the evening. Following a Tebow incompletion, the Broncos face a third-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 11. They’ll talk about it before the next play as Tebow calls the team’s second timeout.

Q3 1:53: Tebow takes a shotgun snap and slings a pass for Eric Decker around the 5-yard line. In tight coverage, Decker can’t make the grab and Matt Prater steps on for a 29-yard field goal attempt. The kick is good and the Broncos now have a three score lead.

BRONCOS 20, STEELERS 3

Q3 1:45: Prater slams another touchback. Another boomer through the end zone gives Pittsburgh the ball at their own 20-yard line. On the first play, Joe Mays drills Leftwich. He was looking for Emmanuel Sanders, but the ball ended up closer to Kyle McCarthy. Worrell Williams pressures Leftwich this time, but Alphonso Smith gets flagged for pass interference. The cornerback pleads his case, but the 9-yard penalty stands. The Steelers have a first-and-10 from their own 29-yard line.

Q4 15:00: The third quarter ends with the Steelers facing a second-and-17. They got there after an illegal man downfield penalty and a run by Dwyer that lost two yards. They’re at their own 43-yard line as the quarter begins.

Q4 14:59: Leftwich takes a shot gun snap and immediately gets swarmed by the Broncos defense. Jason Hunter hit him first before Joe Mays finished the sack. That knocks the Steelers back another 10 yards and sets up a third-and-27. Jonathan Dwyer smacks into the line, losing three more yards as Hunter notches another tackle for loss. Thompson steps back to field Pittsburgh’s punt. He picks up 15 yards on the return and the Broncos will start this drive from their own 30-yard line.

Q4 13:36: Tebow is still under center. He hands off to Lance Ball to begin the drive and the running back picks up five yards. After Tebow threw away his second down pass, the Broncos face a third-and-5 from their own 25-yard line. Tebow takes a shot gun snap and has his pass for Britt Davis picked off by Crezdon Butler. Butler returns the interception up the left side. He takes it 40 yards before stepping out of bounds at the Broncos 5-yard line.

Q4 12:44: Following Tebow’s first interception of the preseason, the Broncos used their final timeout. It will be first-and-goal for the Steelers when they resume.

Q4 12:43: Leftwich looks for Arnaz Battle but Syd’Quan Thompson and David Bruton were there to make sure he couldn’t haul in the touchdown. Dwyer takes the ball around the right side and into the end zone untouched. It’s a 5-yard score, and the Steelers have their first touchdown of the evening. Jeff Reed hits the point after.

BRONCOS 20, STEELERS 10

Q4 12:34: Matthew Willis is back deep to return Jeff Reed’s kick-off. The bounding kick hits off Bruce Hall before Willis grabs it and takes it to the Broncos 26-yard line. They’ll start the drive there.

Q4 11:20: Two big plays move the Broncos into scoring range. First, Tebow took a hit and found Matthew Willis for a big gain. Then, Lance Ball takes a pitch off the left side for a 43-yard gain. That moves the Broncos to the Steelers 6-yard line. Ball pushes ahead to the 4-yard line on first-and-goal. Tebow caps the drive with his first passing touchdown as a Bronco. The quarterback lofted a soft pass for fellow 2010 draft pick Eric Decker for a 3-yard score. The cornerback Decker beat on the play was the same guy who had the interception a few minutes ago, Crezdon Butler. Prater adds the extra point.

BRONCOS 27, STEELERS 10

Q4 9:59: Stefan Logan got tired of downing Matt Prater’s kicks in the end zone and brought this one out from 6 yards deep. Logan only made it to the 13-yard line before he was dropped by Thompson and Worrell Williams. Charlie Batch enters at quarterback for the Steelers.

Q4 9:57: After a false start penalty set the Steelers back, Dwyer pushed the pile for a 17-yard gain, giving the visitors a first-and-10 from their own 25-yard line. Dwyer breaks another big run. This time he broke up the right side for a 40-yard gain before David Bruton chased him down.

Q4 8:20: Justin Vincent takes the first-down hand-off for his first carry of the gain. He gets 1 yard before Hunter and Worrell Williams tackle him. Batch buys some time in the pocket before lofting a perfect pass for Vincent around Worrell Williams. Hunter gets flagged for roughing the passer as well. The result is a first-and-goal for the Steelers at the Broncos 7-yard line. Batch finishes the quick drive, threading a touchdown pass Antonio Brown. Reed knocks through the extra point to make it a 10-point game once again.

BRONCOS 27, STEELERS 17

Q4 7:04: Matthew Willis steps back deep to take Reed’s kick off. Willis gets crushed by Stefan Logan at his own 15-yard line. Brady Quinn is in at quarterback.

Q4 6:54: Quinn starts the drive by missing Decker on a short pass. Then, Bruce Hall burst through the line for a Broncos first down. On first down, Quinn hit Hall for a 2-yard gain. Hall gets another carry and loses a yard. Facing a third-and-10 from his own 26-yard line, Quinn takes a sack, getting dropped by Renauld Williams. Colquitt comes into punt. The punt goes 55 yards and Logan makes a fair catch at his own 24-yard line.

Q4 4:09: After a 17-yard pass, Batch looked right and was picked by Syd’Quan Thompson. The rookie cornerback streaked down the sideline untouchded on an easy 48-yard touchdown return — the Broncos second defensive touchdown of the game. Thompson hands the ball to a fan in the stands as his teammates celebrate. Prater adds the extra point, and the Broncos have a 17-point lead.

BRONCOS 34, STEELERS 17

Q4 3:59: Prater blasts another touchback. Batch and the Steelers offense take over at their own 20-yard line. Dwyer takes a hand-off up the middle for 2 yards to begin the drive. The rookie running back gets it again for 5 yards. On third down, Batch gives it to Dwyer again and he ends up about half a yard short of the first down marker. The Steelers will punt.

Q4 1:44: Thompson takes the punt and continues his big night. He races up the middle and doesn’t stop until he ends up at the Steelers 17-yard line. That’s a 62-yard return. There’s also two fouls on Pittsburgh on the play. They’ll decline an illegal formation penalty and take an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. The Broncos start this drive at Pittsburgh’s 8-yard line after all that.

Q4 1:43: Bruce Hall pushes his way to the Steelers 2-yard line on a 6-yard rush. Hall gets to the one on his second carry. On third down, the Steelers stuff him again. They won’t run another play. This game is over, and the Broncos have their first win of the 2010 preseason. They close out their home preseason slate with a victory.

Thanks for following along at DenverBroncos.com.

BRONCOS 34, STEELERS 17 FINAL

Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Preseason, Second Half Blog

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